London and Aberystwyth in September and now Glasgow in November… Gatherings seem to be in vogue across the UK, which is something that gives us here at YouTube the sort of warm, tingling feeling we usually reserve for Pets & Animals videos. This isn’t just because they represent our big chance to buy affection with YouTube freebies – oh no! – it’s also because Gatherings provide concrete proof that the YouTube community is alive and well.

The events in Wales and England offered a golden opportunity for YouTube users to meet likeminded people and, initially at least, talk about a shared interest. Trying to keep track of all the great ideas being bounced around about how to use the site or develop it in future was quite a task, but what was striking was learning the impact that YouTube has had on people’s lives – a theme echoed by this Domeyre79 video:

YouTube is lucky to have attracted such a creative, communicative and proactive group of people – not least in the individuals who organised the Gatherings – and this community is something that sets the YouTube experience apart from any other. So if you can, get yourself along to one of these meet-ups. At the very least you stand a chance of bagging a free T-shirt for your troubles.

Now you can find YouTube videos based on where they were created! Google Earth has just launched a new browseable layer which populates geo-tagged YouTube videos when you click on a location. To access this feature, go to Google Earth and head over to the new 'Featured Content' folder on the left-hand side of the page. Click the 'YouTube' button and icons pointing to videos related to that area on the map will appear. The closer you zoom in, the more videos will display; you can then watch these videos via Google Earth or YouTube. You can also search for all videos attached to a specific location or just click around on the map as you please. This works best if you download the newest version of Google Earth, so be sure to get the latest version.

You can tag your video with a location during the upload process on YouTube. Simply click the "Date and Map Options" to display the maplet, then drag the marker or use the search browser to choose a specific location. Once your location is recorded, your video will appear on Google Earth.

Welcome to YouTube Project Direct, our first film competition and – drumroll, please – our first international contest ever!

If you’re ready to turn your craft into your career, direct an original short film incorporating three key elements, outlined for you here by award-winning filmmaker, Jason Reitman, and you could get the exposure you need.

Submit your film by November 9th, and Jason and a panel of industry experts, including studio executives and Hollywood agents, will review your films and choose the top twenty. Starting November 24th, the YouTube community will vote for a final winner.